Wiley Rein LLP has extensive experience with respect to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), 22 U.S.C. 611 et seq. Under the FARA statute, all persons acting as an “agent of a foreign principal” as defined in the statute, must register with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) within 10 days of becoming, or agreeing to become, such an agent unless an exception to registration applies. Enacted in 1938, the purpose of this statute is to ensure that persons acting within the United States as agents of foreign principals engaged in political or quasi-political activities disclose their relationship with the foreign principal, activities, and disbursements and receipts in connection with these activities to the U.S. government.

To help clients navigate this disclosure statute, Wiley Rein has authored the FARA Issues Handbook which reviews the rules that govern whether an entity should register with the FARA Registration Unit of the DOJ, the registration process, the obligations of registered agents, and the penalties that may be imposed for FARA violations. Our attorneys routinely counsel clients on whether registration is required under FARA and, if so, the requirements for registration. We also regularly draft advisory opinion requests on behalf of clients to the National Security Division of the DOJ, which is tasked with administering and enforcing the statute. Additionally, Wiley Rein attorneys actively assist clients with completing and executing their FARA filings.